Although most states require drivers to have insurance, that hasn't stopped a large swath of Americans from doing without it. Industry analysts say that about one in seven drivers don't have coverage in response to the struggling economy, USA Today reports.

The number of drivers lacking coverage does not come cheap, either. Statistics have shown that uninsured motorists cost insured drivers $10.8 billion in 2007. The state with the largest percentage of offenders was Mississippi, where a whopping 28 percent of people behind the wheel are uninsured, despite the fact laws mandate it.

"It is costly to track down violators of compulsory insurance laws, and unless the odds of getting caught are high and the penalties severe, drivers will continue to flout the law," Loretta Worsters, president of the Insurance Information Institute, told the publication.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was Massachusetts, which only had 4 percent of drivers uninsured. New Hampshire is the only state without some sort of similar law in place.

Motorists looking to purchase insurance for their new car should consider a few tips before doing so – including finding competitive quotes and reviewing your previous driving record, Edmunds reports.